Tag: News

• TikTok is sponsoring the Met Gala this year, and CEO Shou Chew is expected to be there.
• The "ban or divest" law was just passed 2 weeks ago, and TikTok plans to fight it in court.
• It will be interesting to see if Chew says anything about the bill.

Celebrities like Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Doja Cat will attend the Met Gala on Monday night, and as a human who likes beautiful things, I am excited to see what glamorous outfits they'll be wearing

But I am more interested to see TikTok CEO Shou Chew — who hasn't done a public appearance or interview since the "TikTok ban" law was passed about two weeks ago.

TikTok has said that it will challenge this law in the courts, and it's likely that this could tie things up for some time. (So don't expect it to disappear from your phone anytime soon.)

It just so happens that TikTok is a main sponsor for this year's Met Gala, so that's why Chew is expected to be there. This won't be his first time at the gala — he attended in 2022. Other tech leaders have attended, too, like Jeff Bezos (who is expected to be there this year with his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez), Adam Mosseri, and Elon Musk.

The Met Gala is a beloved, fun event with a highbrow sheen. It can be a way for celebrities to forge a defining image. It's a perfect venue for the leader of a company being accused of being a national security risk to appear charming and dapper in a tux.

Unlike Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, Chew isn't a household name, and the general public doesn't appear to have a solid opinion about him. (Even US senators have questioned him on his nationality.)

It will be interesting to see if the images of Chew from Monday's gala will affect the public's current understanding of him and TikTok.

The Met Gala isn't exactly a place where an embattled tech leader expects to get grilled, and it's unclear if Chew will be doing any red-carpet interviews that will go too far beyond who he's wearing. (According to The New York Times, he is expected to wear Ralph Lauren.)

• Top Tesla exec Tom Zhu has been redeployed to China, Electrek reports.
• Several other top execs have left Elon Musk's company.
• Musk is consolidating power at Tesla as a vote over his $47 billion pay package looms.

One of Tesla's top executives has been reassigned to China in another sign that Elon Musk is tightening his grip on the electric carmaker.

Tom Zhu, who was previously in charge of Tesla's US plants and sales — effectively making him second in command to Elon Musk — has now been named VP of China, Electrek reports.

Prior to the move, Zhu had assumed more responsibilities at Tesla as Musk was increasingly occupied by X, according to Electrek.

Reuters reported last year that Zhu — who had formerly led the Gigafactory Shanghai manufacturing plant — had been promoted.

Now, Musk has resumed control of Tesla's North American sales operations, Electrek reports.

Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

In recent weeks, Tesla has undergone multiple waves of layoffs and seen the departure of roughly half a dozen top execs, including SVP of powertrain and electrical engineering Drew Baglino and VP of public policy and business development Rohan Patel.

That's apparently given Musk the opportunity to consolidate Tesla's power.

Meanwhile, Musk's $47 billion pay package hangs in the balance.

A Delaware court overturned Musk's 2018 CEO performance award in January after a shareholder filed a lawsuit arguing it was excessive. Tesla's board is urging shareholders to reapprove the package in another vote.

Ahead of that vote, The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Musk has been making changes at the company — including a focus on AI technology and robotaxis — that would make him more indispensable to its future. Despite Tesla's rough earnings figures last quarter, the stock still shot up after Musk promised cheaper EVs and hinted at his robotaxi ambitions.

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College is expensive, but there are fortunately a number of streaming services that offer substantial student discounts that can help give your wallet a break. Students on a budget can take advantage of several deals from popular streaming services, including film, TV, and music offerings. If you plan out your spending and snag the right discounts, you can now enjoy several streaming services without breaking the bank.

To help you decide what to sign up for, we rounded up the best streaming service deals that are currently available for college students in the US. We've also compiled a list of popular streaming services that don't offer any sort of student discount so that you don't waste your time trying to find one.

Verification procedures vary from service to service, with most now using third-party verification platforms like SheerID to look into your student status. Be sure to check each platform's website for full details.

Amazon Prime

Amazon offers a discounted plan for college students called Amazon Prime Student. The program includes a six-month free trial for new members and each month after the trial costs $7.49. An individual membership to Amazon Prime costs $14.99 a month, so by claiming the student membership, you get 50% off the standard price.

The student plan includes access to Prime Video where you can watch shows like "Fleabag," "Invincible," and "The Boys." Prime Video is also the home to several original films, like "Being the Ricardos" and "Air." 

In addition to Prime Video, student members receive fast and free shipping on millions of eligible items, discounts on services like three months of Calm for free, and more exclusive deals that are further explained in our breakdown of Amazon Prime Student.

Hulu

Hulu offers their basic ad-supported plan to college students for $1.99/month until they graduate as a part of their Hulu Student Deal plan. The Hulu Basic Plan normally costs $7.99 a month, so the student discount saves you about 75%. 

Hulu Basic offers access to Hulu's full catalog of movies and original series. Hulu also features a big selection of network shows, including popular series like "Grey's Anatomy," "The Bachelor," and "Bob's Burgers." You'll also be able to stream Emmy Award-winning Hulu originals, like "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Great," and "The Dropout."

Paramount+ 

Similar to Hulu, Paramount+ offers their ad-supported plan to college students at a discounted rate. You can claim a 25% discount on the Essential Plan, which brings the price down to around $4.50 a month. Unlike most streaming service deals, current college students can lock in this discount for four years, even if they graduate.

With Paramount_, you can watch CBS shows like "NCIS," "Criminal Minds," and "Ghosts," along with movies like "Mean Girls," "Top Gun: Maverick," and "Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning." This is also the streaming service where you'll find all of the "Yellowstone" prequels. The service features content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTV, BET, and The Smithsonian Channel. 

The platform also includes original series like "The Good Fight" and "Star Trek: Discovery." Take a look at our full guide to original shows and movies on Paramount+ for more information about current and upcoming titles.

Peacock

Peacock now has a student deal that reducess the monthly cost by about two-thirds of what it normally would be. The Peacock Student Discount goes for $1.99 per month, as opposed to the standard monthly rate of $5.99. Students who continue to meet verification standards can renew their discount every year.

A Peacock account comes with access to several beloved sitcoms, including "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and "30 Rock." The streaming service also has a variety of original TV shows, like "Poker Face" and "Apples Never Fall," as well as several top-rated films, including all eight "Harry Potter" movies. Peacock is also where you'll find this year's Academy Award for Best Picture winner, "Oppenheimer."

Apple

Apple's student streaming plan combines subscriptions to Apple Music and Apple TV+ for just $5.99 per month. With Apple Music at a regular monthly rate of $10.99 and Apple TV+ at a rate of $9.99, this student deal is more than 70% off in total.

College students are eligible for this discount for up to four years as long as they remain enrolled in school.

With Apple TV+ you can stream original series like "Ted Lasso," "For All Mankind," and "The Morning Show." Apple Music allows you to stream over 75 million songs from your favorite artists without any interruptions from ads. You can also download music to supported devices for offline listening.

Spotify

Spotify is another company offering an exclusive deal for college students that combines music with streaming services. You can get Spotify Premium Student for $5.99 a month after a one-month free trial. The discount also comes with Hulu's ad-supported plan thrown in, so it's a great deal.

The student plan is $5 cheaper than the individual Spotify Premium plan which costs $10.99 a month. To retain access to Spotify Premium at this discounted rate, students must verify they are still enrolled in college every 12 months. The Spotify Premium Student bundle is valid for a maximum of four years and you're only eligible for it if you haven't tried Premium before.

YouTube Premium

YouTube Premium offers $6 off their individual plan to students, along with a one-month free trial for new customers.

This streaming service doesn't offer many original movies or shows, but for a discounted rate of $7.99 a month you can watch YouTube without ads, keep videos running in the background, and use the YouTube Music Premium app. The regular individual YouTube Premium rate is $13.99, so this isn't a bad deal.

Annual verifications are required to keep the student discount.

Streaming services without student deals

Though student discounts have become common, there are a few streaming services that don't currently offer any student deals. The following services don't have any active student discount offers: 

• Max
• Disney+
• Netflix
• Discovery+

It's worth noting that Discovery+ only got rid of their student discount in June of 2023, but subscribed students were allowed to keep the discount for the remainder of their verified year. So, if you've recently started getting charged $4.99 per month, it's because your year was up.

Additional streaming deals

For more streaming recommendations, take a look at our guide to the best streaming services. And, if you're looking for a compact smart TV or media player ideal for watching any of these apps in a dorm or apartment, check out these home entertainment gift ideas for college students. 

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It's strange to think Apple started with a single iPhone model back in 2007 when the company has eight to pick from in 2024. For some, having so many iPhones available complicates choosing the best iPhone. On the other hand, it also means you can find the one that's right for you.

Whether your decision-making is based on performance, features, display size, or price, our buying guide can help you home-in on the best iPhone. Collectively, our tech reviewers have tested and reviewed iPhones since the first device, so our picks can assure you. Many of our tech reviewers also use iPhones daily as personal devices, and we can confidently comment on their long-term use and identify shortcomings.

After extensive usage and testing, we determined that the iPhone 15 is the best iPhone for most people. It has the fewest compromises for the best value. For those on a budget, we recommend the iPhone 13 for its overall similarities to the iPhone 15 for a lower price.

Our top picks for the best iPhone

Best overall: iPhone 15 – See at Best Buy

Best budget: iPhone 13 – See at Best Buy

Best premium: iPhone 15 Pro – See at Best Buy

Best battery life: iPhone 15 Plus – See at Best Buy

Best small size: iPhone SE (2022) – See at Best Buy

Best overall

The iPhone 15 is the best option for most people. Besides being one of the latest models you can buy, it's a big update over the iPhone 14 in features and performance. It uses the A16 Bionic chipset and Dynamic Island feature, which were introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro.

Performance has gone up, which couldn't be said for the iPhone 14 since that model repurposed the same A15 Bionic chipset used in the iPhone 13. In our benchmark tests, the iPhone 15 showed a notable uptick from its predecessor, while the iPhone 14 and 13 yielded similar results. In day-to-day use, you won't notice a huge performance difference right now, but that gap will widen as apps and iOS updates become more advanced over the years. With that said, the A16 is technically an older processor.

Battery life is roughly on par with the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 Pro. Depending on your usage, your mileage will vary, but it's likely you will need to charge the iPhone 15 each night. Only the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max lasted longer due to their larger batteries.

One criticism of the iPhone 14 is that because it wasn't a big leap over the iPhone 13, both phones felt similar. While the iPhone 15 retains the same design, the user experience is now akin to the newer Pro models, thanks to the inclusion of Dynamic Island. Located at the top, where the front camera and Face ID sensor are, Dynamic Island is a novel way to interact with notifications, alerts, and app shortcuts. It's a clever way to display information without covering the entire screen.

Since Apple is moving away from the Lightning connector, the iPhone 15 uses USB-C for charging and data transfer; there's also MagSafe and wireless charging. The move standardizes the cables you'd need for electronics, but Lightning-based iPhone owners would need to buy new cables, chargers, and adapters. 

However, unlike the USB-C ports in the iPhone 15 Pro models that support faster USB 3 transfer speeds, the iPhone 15's connector only handles USB 2, comparable to Lightning. Technologically, in this implementation, the iPhone 15's move to USB-C offers no advantage over Lightning. And unless you already own USB-C accessories, it will be more of an inconvenience for those who have been living in a Lightning-only world.

The iPhone 15's main camera also gets upgraded from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro. Optical zoom reaches farther, at 2x. Users can save photos in 24-megapixel high resolution, which allows for greater quality, particularly in low light. In Portrait mode, you have greater control over subject focus and depth of field, and Apple claims the detailing and coloring are stronger. The iPhone 15 even captures depth information in standard mode, so you can enable Portrait features afterward, like blurring. 

In our opinion, the iPhone camera system has been stellar for several generations, and most users will find it difficult to see the differences when viewing on a small screen. Still, you're getting the second-best iPhone camera system (after the iPhone 15 Pro) available, which will more than satisfy most casual photographers and videographers for some time.

One new feature that didn't get trickled down from the Pro series is the always-on display. However, the screen's resolution and maximum peak brightness did get a boost.

The iPhone 15 marks Apple's most transformative change to its standard model since the iPhone 12. While it isn't revolutionary — we don't think iPhone 14 users need to trade in unless they want a slightly faster processor, Dynamic Island, USB-C, and enhanced camera — there are enough new things to make it a worthwhile upgrade. 

See our guide to the best iPhone 15 cases to protect the phone. 

Best budget

The iPhone 13 stretches the definition of a "budget" option with its $599 starting price, especially when the iPhone SE (2022) is less expensive at $429. However, the iPhone 13 comes more highly recommended over the iPhone SE because the former offers a better value and experience in the long run. 

The iPhone 13 could also be considered a cheaper version of the latest model, the iPhone 15, while the iPhone SE is the last of a dying breed of older iPhones and targets a niche preference for small phones.

In many ways, the iPhone 13 is similar to the iPhone 15. It has a 6.1-inch OLED display and many of Apple's modern features that aren't available on the iPhone SE, like Face ID, MagSafe wireless charging, mmWave 5G support (the super-fast 5G network), an ultrawide camera, Night Mode for low-light photography, and a better selfie camera. 

While they're not the upgraded cameras on the iPhone 15, the iPhone 13 still takes beautiful photos that are hard to complain about. 

The iPhone 13's performance isn't far behind the iPhone 15's, seeing as the former runs on Apple's A15 processor and the latter runs on the A16 processor. The iPhone 13 should still have plenty of life ahead of it despite being a couple of years older than the iPhone 15.

The iPhone SE (2022) also runs on the same A15 processor. Despite its low price, we hesitate to recommend the iPhone SE due to its small screen, antiquated design, short battery life, and lack of modern Apple features. The SE has limited appeal (our pick for the best small iPhone), but you should consider your needs besides price.

The iPhone 14 is a very good phone on its own, but the value isn't there for its $699 starting price. It runs on the same processor as the iPhone 13 and essentially offers an identical experience overall. The only reason you'd buy the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13 is for Apple's Crash Detection and satellite-based Emergency SOS safety features. 

However, based on Apple's product refresh cycle, the iPhone 14 will supersede the iPhone 13 as the budget option this fall, so you could hold off until around September to snag the more recent model at a lower price.

Best premium

The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the only current options in the Pro series, so for advanced users, the decision boils down to size preference and camera features (more on that later). Both share the same high-end components, so everyday performance is mostly on par with the exception of battery life. The Pro Max can accommodate a larger battery, which results in an almost 10% advantage over the standard Pro model.

The phones carry over features introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro, like Dynamic Island, always-on display, Crash Detection, and satellite-based Emergency SOS. But the iPhone 15 Pro has several new features that may make iPhone 14 Pro users — particularly those with demanding workflows, like videographers — ponder upgrading.

The iPhone 15 Pro launches the new A17 Pro chipset with a six-core GPU that delivers better graphics performance over the Bionic's four- and five-core GPUs, according to Apple. This means games, animations, and other effects should look even smoother. Most users will have difficulty noticing the difference — benchmark tests reveal a slight improvement over the A16 Bionic's numbers — but we're likely to see it down the road when more apps take advantage of the chipset.

Like the regular iPhone 15, Apple standardized the connector from Lightning to USB-C. What's unique to the Pro models is that the USB-C port supports faster data transfers (USB 3). For advanced users, this is a game changer: it allows for faster file transfers between the iPhone 15 Pro and a Mac or hard drive, as well as connecting to peripherals like 4K displays. 

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't include a cable that supports fast transfers or a charger — just a basic USB-C variant for charging — so upgraders may need to add one. Existing iPhone Pro users will likely already have USB-C accessories they can repurpose, particularly those who own newer iPads, Macs, and PCs.

Another new feature is the Action Button on the phone's left side, above the volume buttons. It's used for switching between ring and silent modes, but it can be customized to quickly access commonly used functions like the flashlight, camera, shortcuts, and more. It's handy, but our gripe is that it can only be used for one function at a time, and you'd need to dive into the settings menu to remap the button. 

Apple upgraded the iPhone 15 Pro's body material from stainless steel to titanium. When bonded with aluminum using a novel manufacturing process, Apple says the titanium frame is super-strong and allows for thinner borders and contoured edges. It also gives it a unique metallic finish. While looks are subjective, the iPhone 15 Pro is beautiful, but we aren't sold that it looks any more attractive than the iPhone 14 Pro, as both use a matte glass back. 

The titanium body is also lighter than stainless steel. The iPhone 15 Pro is 0.67 ounces lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro, and Apple says it's more comfortable to hold. For us, it was difficult to spot the contrasts.

The camera system, perhaps the phone's most sophisticated feature, got upgraded. The main camera is still 48 megapixels, but there's now a 24-megapixel mode that creates high-resolution photos with improved lighting and details. Like the iPhone 15, the Pro lineup gets improved Portrait mode, but there's a third, telephoto lens that's not available in the standard model. On the iPhone 15 Pro Max, that telephoto lens now has a longer 5x zoom versus 3x in the iPhone 15 Pro. There are lots of features designed for advanced photographers and videographers, but they could be overkill for the casual user.

Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, but the iPhone 15 Pro also has a 128GB entry-level model for those who want a sub-$1K Pro model.

The iPhone 15 Pro is not only the fastest iPhone you can buy right now, but it's loaded with features that appeal to advanced users or those who simply want the best and newest. The Pro Max version increases the screen size and battery life. With that said, the iPhone Pro is not for every user. Most people will find the Pro an overkill and be satisfied with the standard iPhone 15 models, not to mention the cost savings. 

See our guides to the best iPhone 15 Pro cases or best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases to protect either phone. 

Best battery life

The iPhone 15 Plus is identical to the iPhone 15 (our overall recommendation) in terms of performance and features. The two big exceptions are the size (6.7-inch display) and larger battery, which Apple claims is enough for 26 hours of video playback versus 20 hours in the smaller iPhone 15.

If you want longer battery life, don't mind (or prefer) a bigger screen, and need to stay on budget (Apple's other 6.7-inch option is the pricier iPhone 15 Pro Max), the iPhone 15 Plus is a winner.

Our tests yielded approximately 66% of battery life remaining after we put it through playing a 4K YouTube video for two hours, streaming music to a Bluetooth speaker for an hour, and running several benchmark tests that taxed the chipset's processors. That's 14% more than the iPhone 15. Your mileage will vary, but in terms of real-world performance, you could get more than a day's worth of use before recharging.

While the large screen is great for viewing, the device's overall size may not be for everyone.

See our guide to the best iPhone 15 Plus cases to protect the phone. 

Best small size

Now that Apple has gotten rid of its Mini series of iPhones, your best (and only) bet for a small iPhone in Apple's current lineup is the third-generation iPhone SE, released in 2022.

With its 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE is the smallest iPhone you can buy. While it lacks the modern features of other iPhones, it appeals to buyers who want a smaller device and older but familiar tech, like Touch ID. Just be aware that the phone has an outdated user experience.

Powering the iPhone SE is Apple's A15 Bionic processor — the same one that's used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 — which is still powerful and fast enough to run any app or game in the App Store. It also supports some of the most popular features on the iPhone, like iMessage and FaceTime, and is compatible with Apple's ecosystem of devices, like the Apple Watch and AirPods. 

Our main gripes with the iPhone SE are its short battery life compared to larger iPhones, and it's a little spartan in terms of features and design. It has a single camera lens, no MagSafe (although it supports wireless charging), and a dated design with huge borders below and above the display to accommodate the front camera, earpiece speaker, and home button for Touch ID. And the entry model only offers 64GB of storage, which goes fast if you shoot many photos and videos.

If you want a more substantial and up-to-date iPhone experience with two cameras and modern features like Face ID and MagSafe, check with your carrier to see if the iPhone 13 Mini is still available, or buy one refurbished through Apple.

Avoid these iPhones

We don't recommend buying the iPhone 11 or any older model. You might find them refurbished for less than the iPhone 13, but you won't be getting your money's worth, whatever the price, as they won't last very long in terms of performance or iOS updates for new features and security patches. 

If you're looking to spend under the iPhone 13's $599 starting price for a modern-looking iPhone, a refurbished iPhone 12 for around $300 or less can still be worthwhile, but expect a shorter lifespan in iOS upgrades and support from Apple.

Which is the best iPhone?

The best iPhone for most people is the iPhone 15. Starting at $799, it offers the latest smartphone technologies from Apple, plus access to a robust selection of apps and accessories. Those who crave longer battery life or a larger screen (or both) should look at the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 Pro models are the very best iPhones you can buy, but their premium features and build quality cost significantly more.

Specs	iPhone 15	iPhone 13	iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 15 Pro Max	iPhone 15 Plus	iPhone SE (3rd gen)
Starting price	$799	$599	$999	$1,199	$899	$429
Processor	A16 Bionic	A15 Bionic	A17 Pro	A17 Pro	A16 Bionic	A15 Bionic
Release date	September 2023	September 2021	September 2023	September 2023	September 2023	March 2022
Screen size	6.1 inches	6.1 inches	6.1 inches	6.7 inches	6.7 inches	4.7 inches
Rear cameras	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop)	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop), 12MP 3x zoom	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop), 12MP 5x zoom	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (main camera crop)	12MP main
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	64GB, 128GB, 256GB

How we test iPhones

To test iPhones, we use them as if they were our main daily drivers for at least a week, if not longer. That way, we can get an overall sense of their performance, camera quality, battery life, and new features and compare them to our experience with other models within the same generation and previous iPhone generations. 

We expect the latest iPhones to run quickly, smoothly, and flawlessly. To test performance, we run popular and widely used apps and look for any sign of stuttering or slower-than-expected loading times. We also run the Geekbench 6 benchmark to give us an idea of performance improvements over the previous generation.

To test camera quality, we take photos of the same scenes and subjects with each lens. We then compare them to the same photos taken with different phones. To be more accurate, we've started taking photos of our typical scenes at the same time and place with all the latest, generationally current phones available in the US. 

We also take several, often hundreds, personal photos with iPhones, like those of friends and family, which we aren't comfortable posting in our review for the sake of privacy. However, these photos weigh heavily in our assessments, as they reveal positives and negatives that testing scenes don't, like the ability to capture a clear image of moving subjects and the everyday experience of using the cameras. 

For battery life, we put each iPhone through a stress test that simulates a blend of typical casual and intensive daily usage that includes two hours of video streaming at a set brightness, one hour of music streaming while connected to Bluetooth speakers, five runs of the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark test, and two runs of the 3D Mark Wild Life Stress Test. We then note the remaining battery percentage.

FAQs

Which iPhone has the best camera?

Currently, the best iPhone camera systems are in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, followed by the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

In addition to the latest camera hardware and software technologies, the Pro models use three lenses: main, ultrawide, and telephoto. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus make do with main and ultrawide lenses, but the main lens doubles for telephoto. While the Pro models have advanced features for shooting photos and videos, the standard iPhone 15 camera system can capture great image quality that should satisfy most users, especially for social media.

That said, even older iPhone models like the iPhone 13 have great cameras. The "worst" camera may be the iPhone SE, which has a single-lens system, but even that model captures great-looking photos under good lighting conditions.

When is the best time to buy a new iPhone?

There is no objective "best time" to buy an iPhone. However, it can be argued that it's better to buy a new iPhone sooner rather than later after a new iPhone launch, which typically happens in September. 

If September is nearing when you're considering a new iPhone, you're better off waiting until September to see what the new model has in store. Also, older iPhone models that Apple keeps selling after a new release tend to get an additional $100 price cut.

If you need a new iPhone because your current one isn't working or broken, the best time to buy a new iPhone is now.

Where is the best place to buy an iPhone?

Carriers tend to have the highest trade-in values for your old phone. We've seen trade-in deals where you can get the latest iPhone model for free by trading in an older iPhone. We've also seen carriers trade significantly older iPhones for the same value as a one-year-old iPhone around when a new iPhone is released.

Do iPhones need cases?

We generally recommend that iPhone owners use cases. There's no doubt a naked iPhone looks and feels the best, but all it takes is one drop from a decent height onto a hard floor to crack the back or front glass. 

Some people accept the risk, and some buy AppleCare Plus for this very reason, which offers unlimited repairs for accidental damage with a $29 fee per incident for back or front glass damage on top of the cost of AppleCare Plus.

However, a case is the best and most cost-effective way to ensure your iPhone's hardware stays in working order. If you're leaning toward our top pick, the iPhone 15, see our guide to the best iPhone 15 cases to protect the phone and extend its longevity. 

• Sales at fast-food brands took a hit again last quarter after boycotts in the Middle East.
• Chains from McDonald's to Starbucks are still feeling the pressure of consumers seeking alternatives.
• It marks the second full quarter of major American brands feeling the boycotts since Israel's invasion of Gaza.

For the second quarter in a row, America's biggest fast-food brands continued to see their sales hit by consumer boycotts in the Middle East.

McDonald's said last week that it took a sales hit from "the ongoing war in the Middle East" at restaurants in that part of the world. The effect was big enough to outweigh sales increases in Japan, Europe, and Latin America, CEO Ian Borden said on the company's first-quarter earnings call.

Same-store sales in the segment, which consists of restaurants licensed to third-parties instead of company-owned locations, fell 0.2%.

American brands from Domino's to the Golden Arches started to feel the effects of boycotts shortly after Israel's invasion of Gaza last October.

Some consumers in the Middle East and other parts of the world have avoided brands associated with the US, citing America's support of Israel.

While sales in the Middle East represent a small percentage of overall revenue for most large brands, the hit has been persistent over the past several months.

"We're not expecting to see any meaningful improvement in the impacts on that until the war is over," McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on last week's earnings call.

At Starbucks, the problems in the Middle East took a toll on second-quarter international sales, CFO Rachel Ruggeri said. Comparable store sales abroad fell 6% during the coffee chain's second quarter, due in part to lower sales in the Middle East as well as in other areas of the world, such as China.

Comparable sales in North America, which fell 3%, may have also suffered because of consumers' opinions about the company and its role in the Middle East, analysts at Bank of America wrote on Monday.

The analysts wrote that "a social media narrative around [Starbucks'] position on the Middle East may be the primary driver" of slower sales in the US. Many of the boycott efforts have relied on social media and technology to spread, such as an app that lets coffee drinkers find other cafes near Starbucks locations.

Starbucks has previously said that the company "has never contributed to any government or military operation in any way."

In January, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said that the events in the Middle East were even convincing some fair-weather customers in the US to stay away from Starbucks stores.

The boycotts also affected the latest same-store sales at Pizza Hut and KFC, both operated by Yum! Brands, the company said in an earnings call last week. Same-store sales at KFC, for instance, fell 2% during the company's first quarter.

But the company also said that the effects of boycotts on its brand are starting to dissipate, CEO David Gibbs said during the call. "Time is usually the answer to most of those problems," Gibbs said.

• A general partner at Andreessen Horowitz is the latest to join the debate around "fake work" in Big Tech.
• David Ulevitch said "half the white-collar staff at Google probably does no real work."
• Other VCs have made similar remarks, and tech firms like Google and Meta had mass layoffs in recent years.

An investor at famed Silicon Valley firm Andreessen Horowitz is the latest VC to get involved in the debate around "fake work" in the tech industry.

In an interview published Monday with Emily Sundberg for her Substack newsletter "Feed Me," Andreessen Horowitz general partner David Ulevitch called Google "an amazing example" of a corporation employing people in "BS jobs."

"As we (society / our economy) prioritize conglomerates and megacorps, irrelevant jobs proliferate," he said. "Anyone who works in a 10,000+ person or larger white-collar job company knows that a bunch of the people can probably be let go tomorrow and the company wouldn't really feel the difference, maybe it'd even improve with less people inserting themselves into things."

Ulevitch was previously the CEO of web security startup OpenDNS, which he sold to Cisco for $635 million in 2015.

"The growing professional managerial class in America, and more importantly, the societal perception that those jobs are 'really important,' is a weakness, not a strength," he added. "I should note, I have been a part of this class in my career, and it's great — people really treated me like I was very impressive and important when I was an SVP at Cisco, and so naturally I thought I was, too. This dynamic is endemic across corporations and is lame."

Ulevitch said one effect is "the decline of small businesses that power America's industrial and manufacturing base," as people in these industries age out of the workforce, the work gets outsourced abroad, and these jobs are seen as less desirable than white-collar gigs. He also pointed to another consequence:

"Another issue with all the 'BS' jobs in large corporations is that it takes profits away from shareholders who are most often the pensioners and retirement accounts of the rest of America," he said. "So those people aren't just being useless (and being coddled to think useless jobs actually matter – they don't), but they are also taking money away from the rest of the workforce's retirement programs."

Ulevitch went on to point the finger at Google specifically, calling it "an amazing example."

"I don't think it's crazy to believe that half the white-collar staff at Google probably does no real work," he said. "The company has spent billions and billions of dollars per year on projects that go nowhere for over a decade, and all that money could have been returned to shareholders who have retirement accounts."

Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reached by email, Ulevitch told BI, "My only comment is that I think it ranks as one of the least controversial things I've ever said."

Other VCs have also entered the debate around "fake work" and overstaffing within Big Tech in recent years.

Marc Andreessen has criticized a managerial "laptop class" and tweeted in 2022, "The good big companies are overstaffed by 2x. The bad big companies are overstaffed by 4x or more."

Tech investor and PayPal Mafia member Keith Rabois last year attributed mass layoffs and Meta and Google to this.

"All these people were extraneous, this has been true for a long time, the vanity metric of hiring employees was this false god in some ways," he said.

"There's nothing for these people to do…it's all fake work," he continued. "Now that's being exposed, what do these people actually do, they go to meetings."

Thomas Siebel, the billionaire CEO of C3.ai, said last year that Google and Meta overhired staff and didn't have enough work for them to do.

"They really were doing nothing working from home," he said. "If you want to work from home, like four days of work in your pajamas, go to work for Facebook."

While some tech workers say they've had to "basically fight to find work," others say bad management is to blame, with bosses overhiring and assigning workers busy work to make themselves look more important and secure promotions.

Tech firms like Meta and Google laid off thousands of workers in recent years, often citing an interest in becoming more efficient.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg declared 2023 would be the company's "year of efficiency" and expressed his distaste for a bloated organizational structure of "managers managing managers." Google CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly told staff in a 2022 all-hands that "there are real concerns that our productivity as a whole is not where it needs to be for the headcount we have."

• Ahead of November, young Black voters are indicating that their turnout could fall below 2020 levels.
• A Washington Post-Ipsos poll revealed that only 41% of young Black voters said they were certain to vote this year.
• It's a number that is sure to alarm Democrats, who are working to boost minority support in 2024.

In 2020, Black Americans were instrumental in sending President Joe Biden to the White House, buoying his candidacy not only in the Democratic primaries but in the general election.

Biden won 92 percent of the Black vote overall that year, while also easily winning millennials and Gen Z voters, according to the Pew Research Center.

But Biden in 2024 is facing the biggest challenge of his political career, as his campaign works to rev up enthusiasm among his 2020 supporters as many of them remain disenchanted about the economy, the conflict in Gaza, and setbacks on everything from voting-rights legislation to student-debt relief.

And among young Black voters aged 18 to 39, voter enthusiasm remains low, according to a Washington Post-Ipsos poll conducted in April, a problem that threatens Biden's reelection and down-ballot Democrats in key races across the country.

Overall, 62 percent of Black voters indicated that they were "absolutely certain to vote" in November, a decline from the 74 percent of Black voters who made the same statement in June 2020.

However, among the youngest cohort of Black voters — aged 18 to 39 — only 41 percent said they were "absolutely certain to vote." The number marked a steep decline from June 2020, when 61 percent of voters in this age group indicated that they were certain to vote.

Among young Black women, 39 percent of respondents said they were certain to vote this year, a sharp fall from the 69 percent who gave the same response in June 2020.

Strikingly, 70 percent of Black voters aged 40 to 64 and 88 percent of Black voters aged 65 and older said they were "absolutely certain to vote," revealing stark generational divides that have become an increasingly visible problem for Democrats — who for decades have relied on Black Americans as their most loyal bloc of base voters.

Young Black voters — less likely to show the sort of allegiance to Democrats that older voters have maintained since the post-Civil Rights era — have made it known that they're on a different political wavelength than their parents and grandparents.

Even in 2020, scores of young Black voters were drawn to more progressive candidates like Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, while older Black voters lined up behind Biden — a familiar face who was seen as a political moderate and had built up goodwill as President Barack Obama's No. 2.

Biden is working to boost enthusiasm among Democrats — but especially among young voters — as he touts his administration's success in passing infrastructure legislation and its record of job creation. For the president, this push is especially critical in the swing states that he'll need to win reelection, but notably in Georgia, the battleground state with the highest share of Black voters.

And the engagement push will also be important for down-ballot Democrats in key House, Senate, and gubernatorial races, who'll need a strong presidential year turnout as they seek to overcome any boost in conservative turnout tied to former President Donald Trump's candidacy.

• I've been a Costco member for 25+ years and, for the past five, have been shopping for just myself.
• Costco has great food deals and I save by buying my electronics and tires there. 
• I'm regularly saving 25 to 30 cents a gallon on gas by going to Costco. 

When I joined Costco back in 1997, I was living in California with my then-husband. We'd wander the aisles, loading our cart with all kinds of fun things, and then get pizza from the food court.

After we split up a few years ago and I started only shopping for one, there was no way I was giving up my membership.

After all, the wholesale club has 129.5 million membership cardholders, which range from small households to midsize businesses. I was confident I'd make the most of my membership for one.

Fortunately, I've found plenty of deals for a single shopper at Costco. Here are my favorites.

• Walmart will close eight locations across four states in 2024 so far.
• The company cited financial underperformance as the reason for the decisions.
• The company plans to open or begin construction on 14 new locations this year.

Walmart will close a Bay Area store later this month, as well as a Neighborhood Market in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bringing the number of confirmed closures so far this year to eight.

Layoff notices filed with the state of Wisconsin and California follow the closures earlier this year of four stores in California, one in Maryland, and one in Ohio. In those cases, the company said the stores were not meeting financial performance expectations.

"We are grateful to the customers who have given us the privilege of serving them at our San Diego and El Cajon stores," Walmart spokesperson Brian Little said in a statement to Business Insider in January. "We look forward to continuing to serve them at any of our many locations across the area, on Walmart.com, and through delivery to their home or business."

In each case, the company said workers are eligible for transfer to another location, and Walmart will continue to operate over a dozen stores and warehouse clubs in each local market.

Walmart had over 4,600 retail locations in the US as of February, a figure that includes 3,560 supercenters, 360 discount stores, and 675 neighborhood markets. It also owns nearly 600 Sam's Club warehouses.

The company said in January it will build or up-size over 150 stores in the next five years, starting with 14 new locations this year. Four of the new locations will be in Texas, with three in the Dallas area and one near Houston, the Dallas Morning News reported.

In addition, some 650 locations will be renovated to the brand's "Store of the Future" concept.

Last year, Business Insider tracked the closures of at least 22 Walmart locations across the US, including four in Chicago. Financial performance was cited in those cases as well.

Here are the latest Walmart closings:

California:

• 2121 Imperial Ave. in San Diego

• 605 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon

• 2753 E. Eastland Center Dr. in West Covina

• 4080 Douglas Blvd in Granite Bay (Neighborhood Market)

• 40580 Albrae St. in Fremont

Maryland:

• 1238 Putty Hill Ave in Towson

Ohio:

• 3579 S. High St. in Columbus

Wisconsin

• 7025 W Main St. in Milwaukee (Neighborhood Market)

Here are the confirmed openings:

Georgia:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Atlanta (Neighborhood Market)

Florida:

• U.S. Highway 98 East in Santa Rosa Beach (Neighborhood Market)

Texas

• Preston Road in Celina (Dallas area)

• 16600 FM 423 in Frisco (Dallas area)

• McKinney Street in Melissa (Dallas area)

• 8927 Fry Road in Cypress (Houston area)

8 additional locations are planned to begin construction this year.

Do you work or shop at one of the Walmart stores above and want to share your thoughts? Contact reporter Dominick Reuter from a non-work email at dreuter@businessinsider.com or call/text/Signal at 646.768.4750.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

It's tough to go wrong with most phones available in the US these days, and it's almost impossible to find a bad phone if you're looking for a premium device in 2024. Considering that, the "best phone" depends on your budget and priorities. Still, we can make a general assessment of the best phone overall.

Among the best phones available, Apple's iPhone 15 is our top option for most people due to its balance of performance, camera quality, camera reliability, battery life, and ecosystem for the price. Samsung's Galaxy S24 is the ideal pick for Android users for the same reasons as the iPhone 15. 

On the more affordable end of the spectrum, Apple's iPhone 13 and Google's Pixel 7a are superb devices that offer incredible value. Indeed, they're not exactly "cheap," but we think they're well worth the price considering what they offer and their potential longevity. 

Our top picks for the best phones

Best overall: iPhone 15 – See at Best Buy

Best phone for Android users: Samsung Galaxy S24 – See at Amazon

Best budget iPhone: iPhone 13 – See at Best Buy

Best budget phone for Android users: Google Pixel 7a – See at Amazon

Best camera phone: Google Pixel 8 Pro – See at Amazon

Best battery life: iPhone 15 Plus – See at Best Buy

Best foldable phone: OnePlus Open – See at Amazon

Best overall

These days, most smartphone users fall into either Team iPhone or Team Android. If you're platform agnostic and want a phone that requires the fewest compromises, we recommend the iPhone 15. (For those who prefer Apple, our best iPhone guide shows what else we recommend.)

While Android phones seem to go through identity changes more often than Ethan Hunt, iPhones have stayed relatively consistent year over year. Apple is largely sticking to a successful playbook for the iPhone 15: A phone that delivers a great user experience that revolves around a stable operating system, best-in-class camera system, popular apps, and the latest tech.

The iPhone 15 isn't a big departure from the iPhone 14, but there are noteworthy upgrades. It runs on the A16 processor and incorporates the Dynamic Island notification display, both of which were introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro. Performance has increased over the iPhone 14 and 13, which used the A15. The 6.1-inch display is also much brighter, with a slightly higher resolution.

The big new feature is the iPhone's switch to USB-C from Lightning, which, depending on the user, could be a celebration or an annoyance. There is satisfaction in using the same cable to charge all your devices. But it's inconvenient if you own just Lightning cables and accessories, which would require purchasing new chargers and adapters. 

Most people, however, probably already have USB-C accessories, particularly those who own the newest MacBooks, iPads, PCs, and even Android phones, which have been using USB-C for some time now. Our disappointment with the iPhone 15's USB-C implementation is that it doesn't offer an improvement over Lightning regarding fast charging and data transfer.

The iPhone 15's main camera sensor has been bumped up to 48 megapixels from 12, and the optical zoom is now 2x instead of 1x. While iPhone cameras have always been solid, the iPhone 15 delivers improved low-light performance and picture quality, particularly when cropping into a photo.

While the newest Android phones aren't anything to sneeze at, we still recommend the iPhone for most people due to the polished hardware and software, ease of use, and Apple's lauded support.

For older iPhone owners who held back due to the lack of upgrades in the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 is a more attractive recommendation. However, those who could use Apple's latest high-end features should consider the iPhone 15 Pro models, as they exclusively offer faster USB 3 charging, a customizable Action button, and dedicated zoom lenses. 

See our guide to the best iPhone 15 cases to protect the phone. 

Best phone for Android users

With its triple-lens camera, class-leading performance, AI features, and excellent battery life, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is the complete package. No other phone offers as much as the Galaxy S24 for an $800 base price, even among iPhones.

Indeed, the Galaxy S24's three cameras set it apart from other Android phones in its 6.1-inch size range and $800 price range. By including a 3x zoom lens, the Galaxy S24 offers a more versatile camera experience, allowing you to take better-quality photos of subjects further away.

Ironically, the Galaxy S24's cameras are among our few complaints. To be sure, they're very good cameras, but they're generally less consistent than premium phones from Google and Apple, as irregular lighting can produce flat, shallow photos with reduced character.

That said, overall, the Galaxy S24 is our top pick among the best Android phones, as it is likely to satisfy most people with its stellar performance and high-end features at a reasonable price point. 

Read our full Samsung Galaxy S24 review, and see our guide to the best Samsung Galaxy S24 cases to protect the phone. 

Best budget iPhone

If you're looking for the best iPhone experience for the lowest price, go for the iPhone 13 rather than the iPhone SE (2022). Yes, the iPhone 13 has a $599 starting price compared to the iPhone SE's $429, which stretches the definition of "budget." However, we feel the iPhone 13's extras are well worth it. 

The iPhone 13 runs on Apple's A15 Bionic processor (the same as the iPhone SE, coincidentally). Although two generations old, it can easily handle any app or game in the App Store. 

The iPhone 13 also features Apple's modern design rather than the iPhone SE's antiquated look with its top and bottom bezels. It also includes Face ID, a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, a dual-lens camera, and support for Apple's MagSafe wireless charging and accessories. To top it all off, the iPhone 13 has significantly better battery life than the iPhone SE. 

With all this in mind, we think you'll better enjoy the experience with the iPhone 13 for the years you'll use it. Based on Apple's support cycle, we'd estimate Apple will support the iPhone 13 for another three years. 

However, if budget matters more than features and design, you'll still be happy with the iPhone SE (2022), as it remains another top option among the best cheap phones available. But be aware that the iPhone SE uses an outdated design with a small screen and Touch ID.

Best budget phone for Android users

Budget Android phones often try to appear more premium than they are, mostly with high refresh-rate displays and bunk "macro" cameras that few people will use. Most fall flat when it comes to performance or camera quality. Google's Pixel 7a, however, is the exception. 

At its $499 starting price, the Pixel 7a pushes the boundaries of "budget," especially for an Android phone. Yet, we feel it's well worth it if your budget allows for it, as it's easily the best budget Android phone you can buy now, and it's often discounted. (We expect Google will launch a new Pixel A-series model around the company's Google I/O event on May 14. Consequently, you might want to wait for a price drop of the Pixel 7a or see what the next model offers.)

The Pixel 7a has a smooth 90Hz display, but that's par for the course on budget Android phones. What's impressive is that it runs on the same Tensor G2 processor as Google's flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, meaning it has high-end performance at an excellent value. 

The Pixel 7a's cameras also beat any other phone in its price range. In fact, the Pixel 7a's camera system comfortably competes with phones that cost twice as much. You don't get a dedicated zoom lens with the Pixel 7a, but it's not expected on a $500 phone.  

Read our full Google Pixel 7a review, and see our guide to the best Google Pixel 7a cases to protect the phone. 

Best camera phone

The Google Pixel 8 Pro has three cameras: a 48MP ultrawide camera, a 50MP main camera, and a 48MP 5x zoom camera. It takes excellent photos and imparted the most confidence during our testing, over both Samsung and Apple phones, that it would reliably do so repeatedly. 

The Pixel's signature photo look is gleefully present, with rich and natural colors, and lighting is properly balanced without trying to enhance darker and brighter details with extra brightness. Pixel photos have plenty of contrast, too, which gives photos gorgeous depth.

Our top camera pick among the best Google Pixel phones, the Pixel 8 Pro's three lenses offer plenty of versatility, and we love its 5x zoom compared to the 3x zoom cameras that are more common.

If you want to stick to Apple's ecosystem, the iPhone 15 Pro Max offers the best camera system among iPhones, and it's the only option that matches the Pixel 8 Pro's 5x zoom lens. 

Read our full Google Pixel 8 Pro review, and see our guide to the best Google Pixel 8 Pro cases to protect the phone. 

Best battery life

The iPhone 15 Plus is our recommendation if you're looking for a phone that can last over a day on a single charge. Every user's mileage will vary, but we achieved, on average, 66% of battery life remaining after rounds of testing. A close runner-up is the Samsung S24 Ultra, which yielded similar test results but is a more expensive phone.

In terms of performance and features, the iPhone 15 Plus shares the same pros and cons as the iPhone 15. But the iPhone 15 Plus is a larger device that can accommodate a bigger battery. It also has a 6.7-inch display versus 6.1, which gives you more viewable real estate. The problem is that you can't get longer battery life without getting a large phone, so it's something to consider and worth trying out at a store. That said, we haven't experienced issues when holding it in our hand or stashing it in a pocket.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, with its 6.8-inch display, is a good example of how larger phones tend to offer longer battery life. However, it scored notably higher than other phones with large screens, like the Galaxy S24 Plus and Google Pixel 8 Pro.

That's all to say that the Galaxy S24 Ultra, specs-wise the best Samsung phone, offers the best battery life for Android users, but they have to pay a higher price than iPhone users.

See our guide to the best iPhone 15 Plus cases to protect the phone. 

Best foldable phone

We prefer book-style foldable phones that unfold into compact tablets for their superior functionality and performance relative to clamshell foldables, which fold into compact squares. 

Among the three phone-tablet hybrid foldables available in the US, the OnePlus Open is our favorite option, topping the Google Pixel Fold and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5.

All phone-tablet hybrid foldables essentially offer the same level of performance, top-of-the-line displays with premium specs, like 120HZ refresh rates and OLED panels, excellent camera quality, and superlative battery life. 

What sets the OnePlus Open apart is its superior, rock-solid build quality, its cover display that's sized and shaped like a traditional phone, and its slightly larger cover and tablet displays compared to other available foldables. 

The only gripe we have with the OnePlus Open is the omission of wireless charging, which should be expected on a phone with a $1,700 price tag. It does support super-fast 67W charging speeds, but only with the included proprietary OnePlus charger.

Read our OnePlus Open hands-on assessment, and see our guide to the best foldable phones for other top picks. 

Which is the best phone to buy right now?

Overall, Apple's iPhone 15 is the phone we'd recommend to most people, at least those who live in the US. Android phones these days are fantastic, but they still lack certain key features, like advanced biometric authentication that's on par with Apple's Face ID. Even minor features, like Apple's Dynamic Island, make us lean toward the iPhone 15 for an overall recommendation.

Specs	iPhone 15	Samsung Galaxy S24	iPhone 13	Google Pixel 7a	Google Pixel 8 Pro	iPhone 15 Plus	OnePlus Open
Starting price	$799	$799.99	$599	$499	$999	$899	$1,699.99
Processor	A16 Bionic	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Optimized for Galaxy	A15 Bionic	Google Tensor G2	Google Tensor G3	A16 Bionic	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Release date	September 2023	January 2024	September 2021	May 2023	October 2023	September 2023	October 2023
Screen size	6.1 inches	6.2 inches	6.1 inches	6.1 inches	6.7 inches	6.7 inches	7.82-inch interior; 6.31-inch interior
Rear cameras	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide	50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 10MP 3x zoom	12MP main, 12MP ultrawide	64MP main, 13MP ultrawide	50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP 5x zoom	48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP 2x zoom (uses main camera sensor)	48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 64MP 3x zoom
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	512GB

How we test phones

We test iPhones and Android phones as if they were our daily drivers for at least a week, often longer, to get a feel for their performance, battery life, cameras, and new features. We have extensive experience testing various phone models from different companies at various price points, which lets us quickly identify any issues.

In addition to real-world usage, we conduct standardized tests on all phones reviewed and included in our guides.

For performance, we put phones through a series of benchmarking apps to check for discrepancies between devices. We use Geekbench 6 for general performance and the 3DMark Wild Life Stress Test to gauge extended heavy gaming performance. These tests help us estimate how long a phone could maintain its performance relative to comparable phones.

For camera testing, we photograph a consistent set of scenes with every phone and compare the results with their direct competitors. We take photos and videos with each lens on each phone and evaluate the differences. We even compare budget camera phones to premium options to assess the discrepancies in image and video quality.

For battery life, we run phones through a stress test that simulates a range of typical daily workloads, like streaming video and music, and high-intensity activities, like playing demanding games. This test includes five runs of the Geekbench 6 app, two runs of the 3DMark Wildlife Stress Test, two hours of video streaming at a set average brightness, and one hour of music streaming with a Bluetooth speaker connected. At the end of the test, we note the phone's remaining battery percentage.

FAQs

How much storage should a phone have?

These days, 128GB is the standard, minimum option for storage on most phones. Anything lower than that, like 64GB, can be quite limiting in terms of how many apps you can install, and you can basically forget about storing a significant number of photos, videos, and music.  

128GB of storage can be enough, especially if you use cloud storage for photos and often stream. Depending on how many apps you use, you can also get by downloading videos for flights.

You should opt for more than 128GB of storage if you tend to download your music rather than stream it or store lots of photos and videos on your phone. More storage can be helpful if you have many apps and games.

How long should a phone's battery life last?

A phone's battery should last you through a typical day, even for heavy users with extensive screen time. Thankfully, most phones tend to have good enough battery life to do so.

Larger phones tend to have longer battery lives than smaller ones, so users with lots of screen-on time would benefit from a larger phone if not for the larger display.

Your best options for a phone that can last longer than a day routinely are Apple's iPhone 15 Plus and Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra, large-screen devices that scored the highest among all phones in our intensive battery test. 

What is a good camera for a phone?

More than anything, a good camera for a phone should give you the confidence that you'll get a high-quality photo or video without making you feel like you need to check and retake your content.

We find that Google's Pixel phones and Apple's iPhones tend to give us the most confidence in this regard. Correspondingly, our top overall picks for phone camera systems are Google's Pixel 8 Pro and Apple's iPhone 15 Pro Max, which both offer a dedicated 5x zoom lens.